Alka Joshi – The Secret Keeper Of Jaipur

‘The Secret Keeper Of Jaipur’ by Alka Joshi is the follow up to The Henna Artist. I have not read The Henna Artist but found this book a joy to read. Alka Joshi has made a list at the beginning of the book of every character, who they are, who they are related to and any significant events about each character. This alone is such a good idea although I just read the book without worrying about the list. It was easy to just be immersed immediately for me.

The story is told from the three perspectives of Malik, Nimmi and Lakshmi. We are taken on a journey that highlights deception and disaster but also of loyalty, family and lastly love.

We begin in Shimla where Lakshmi has settled with her husband, Jay. They both work at the community hospital, Jay as a doctor and Lakshmi tending the healing garden that gives her the medicinal ingredients for traditional remedies for the locals. Lakshmi has arranged for Malik to be an apprentice in Jaipur with a friend of hers. A few months before he goes he befriends Nimmi, a young woman with two children who has sadly become a widow. As their friendship blossoms, it becomes a romantic relationship. Malik goes to Jaipur to honour his promise to Lakshmi and promises Nimmi he will be back soon to her and the children. Malik finds himself working with people from his past in Jaipur. They are on a project for the Jaipur Royal Palace, a cinema to rival all cinemas.

As the story unfolds we see Malik with his eye for detail noticing something is not right. As the opening night arrives- a night for celebration turns into disaster. Malik has to do his best to investigate his ideas for what he thinks happened to try to save his friends reputation and also their livelihood.

A novel that I found beautifully written. It transported me to Jaipur or Shimla so easily. Alka Joshi has depicted the lives of the wealthy and the poor so eloquently. The buildings in Jaipur are described so perfectly that I could see them. The more natural Shimla is just as beautifully described along with the poor dwellings.

The characters are all so unique and each are as equally powerful within the book. I thought Nimmi was so strong! Only a young woman who has been widowed in such a sad way and so young. She has the strength to leave her tribe and settle in Shimla with her two children. Then Malik comes along and she thinks she has her happily ever after until he leaves again to Jaipur. I felt for her so much.

I can’t say I have read a book that took me away from my life so quickly as this, and I have read many books…but The Secret Keeper of Jaipur had me enthralled from beginning to end. I loved this book.

Thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for asking me along on this tour so I could discover this beautiful book, Mira Books and Alka Joshi for my gifted copy of this book.